On May 16, 2025, the House Budget Committee rejected President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” in a 16-21 vote, marking a significant setback for the administration’s fiscal agenda. The bill, aimed at extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and implementing steep cuts to social programs like Medicaid, exposed deep divisions within the Republican Party.
Key Provisions and Controversy
The legislation sought to make permanent the 2017 tax cuts, estimated to reduce federal revenue by over $4 trillion through 2034, according to preliminary analyses. To offset this, it proposed $625 billion in Medicaid cuts over a decade, which critics warned could result in 8.6 million to 13.7 million Americans losing healthcare coverage by 2034, per Congressional Budget Office projections and Democratic estimates. Additional measures included funding for border security and air traffic control, alongside controversial Medicaid work requirements set to begin in 2029.
Democrats, led by figures like Rep. Pramila Jayapal, condemned the bill as a “betrayal” prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over healthcare access. Meanwhile, five Republican dissenters—Reps. Chip Roy (TX), Josh Brecheen (OK), Andrew Clyde (GA), Ralph Norman (SC), and Lloyd Smucker (PA)—voted against it, citing insufficient spending cuts and delayed reforms. Roy, a fiscal hawk, demanded immediate Medicaid work requirements and the repeal of green energy initiatives, reflecting tensions between Trump’s populist vision and conservative budget priorities.
Political Fallout
The defeat, described as “humiliating” by critics like Really American, underscored GOP infighting. House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed to negotiate with dissenters over the weekend, aiming for a revote before Congress’s Memorial Day recess. The bill’s failure raises questions about Trump’s ability to unify his party behind his “America First” agenda, especially with conservative hardliners pushing for deeper austerity.
What’s Next?
As the GOP scrambles to salvage the legislation, the outcome will test Trump’s influence in his second term. The bill’s fate hinges on bridging the gap between moderates wary of slashing safety nets and conservatives demanding bolder fiscal restraint. For now, the “Big Beautiful Bill” remains stalled, a symbol of the challenges facing Republican leadership in 2025.
This story is developing and may evolve as new details emerge.